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<p>Or the colleges in question should improve their disclosures around their merit award programs.</p>
<p>r6l: You do have a full ride to a state school in pocket, right? If all else fails, you are going to college!</p>
<p>I know it’s late in the game, and I’m sorry if you read my post as harsh. I get the sense you’re rethinking your former position that parents should not pay for college, and that kids should reject any offers from their parents to fund college costs. It really is a huge burden for you to take on single-handedly. But it’s not just a major financial investment. It’s also a major investment in your future. Is there any way you can revisit the subject of paying for college with your parents, while still offering to pay as much of your EFC as possible through your own income and savings?</p>
<p>sybby719 - Thanks for the head’s up. Yes, I am familiar with the difference between institutional and federal methodology and know the calculations can yield dramatically different results. I have calculated EFC’s for financial planning clients for many years. The surprise for me as a participating parent was the huge difference in attitide/philosophy between the different universities once a “need” was determined.</p>
<p>Rocket - are you willing to give us a glimpse of your credentials? SATs and the like? and any specifics (other than aid) that you want in a college? Major?</p>
<p>wjb-I still think I should pay as much as possible…i really do…I just get frustrated with parents paying for EVERYTHING…and I get that alot of parents really want to invest in their kids…but I know my parents are not among them. I’ve tried to bring up the topic and it’s always the same “you’ll find a way…you have great grades, I’m sure you’ll get a scholarship”…they really don’t get it…</p>
<p>skier…I have a 4.0uw GPA, ranked 3/441 in my class, ACT 34…i’m really not picky, although I do want to go to med school or go to grad school for psych…i like small schools</p>
<p>rocket - the Peterson’s website has a search tool for schools with late and rolling applications. You can search by state.</p>
<p>Sybbie, thanks for the steer back to a positive tone for this thread in seeking alternatives for Rocket.</p>
<p>Perhaps we could turn this thread back to constructive use by using it to detail the merit/need policies of colleges where known.</p>
<p>I think we have heard of strong merit + need policies at (please feel free to add):</p>
<p>St. Olaf
Colorado College</p>
<p>I think I recall seeing a thread of late admit schools on this site. I also think Petersons has that in their search engine</p>
<p>Rocket - I think you have a pretty large group of adults on this thread who are willing to help you. The more info you can provide the better we can assist. (or at least offer advice)</p>
<p>My son got an email from Dickinson College today stating a 2/1 deadline. Here is the link to their financial aid page. (husband went there and loved it, we toured it and loved it) The president takes it upon himself to go to grad schools and “sell” his students.</p>
<p>[Dickinson</a> College - Financial Aid](<a href=“http://dickinson.edu/student-life/resources/financial-aid/]Dickinson”>Dickinson College Homepage)</p>
<p>cluelessdad - great idea. there is some way to "bump’ a post to a new thread (schools that don’t reduce aid package by outside scholarships) so no one has to wade through all this. Don’t know how to do it though :-)</p>
<p>Rocket try to cross reference the list on the common app with some of the schools in the thread are are known for giving good merit aid.</p>
<p>Add Ursinus</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.ursinus.edu/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1308[/url]”>http://www.ursinus.edu/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1308</a></p>
<p>Actually, cluelessdad, I would take St. Olaf’s off that list, unless by “strong merit + need” you just mean the kind of policy that lots of schools appear to have: i.e., that merit aid reduces need-based aid, but hits loans & w/s first. If you read their FAQ answer carefully, that’s what they’re saying, though they do a good job of putting a positive spin on it.</p>
<p>plus their deadline was Jan 15th :(</p>
<p>rl6 - as another thought - don’t panic prematurely. I assume you haven’t received final aid packages from all the schools you did apply to, correct? You may be pleasantly surprised. I’m also going to “assume” that you put a great deal of thought and effort into your applications and essays. Your positive and hard-working attitude certainly shows through here, I’m guessing it will in your application as well. good luck</p>
<p>thanks skier…but I’m all for panicking…it’s like my job</p>
<p>rl6–I agree with skier29. If even a fraction of the intelligence and maturity you show on this forum came through in your applications, then I suspect at least a couple of schools are going to have decided that they really, really want you, and will hopefully put some dollars behind that thought.</p>
<p>I think you shoudl PM curmie, king of the merit $$</p>
<p>I have NOT researched these colleges. they sent e-mails offering scholarships based purely on SAT/ACT scores etc and they are not yet closed for applications.
Seattle Pacific University 2/1 deadline
Green Mountain College (looks like a “specialty” college) - rolling
Also looks like the Penn State campuses may still be accepting applications</p>
<p>there is also another (albeit much older) thread in the parents forum with 700 posts called Schools known for good merit aid.</p>
<p>Colorado College appears exceptionally generous in allowing outside scholarships to reduce EFC. FYI, I just checked and Swarthmore (known for generous FA, certainly) will reduce self-help with the first $500 + 1/2 of remainder of any outside scholarships.</p>
<p>[If most on CC are surprised by these merit award nuances, I guarantee you 99% of college applicants are surprised.]</p>
<p>Agree! The length of this thread speaks directly to the confusion about this issue.</p>